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Jensen Interceptor proves a classic car hire hit

http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ has demonstrated the enduring popularity of the iconic Jensen Interceptor by adding two more of the big-windowed grand tourers to its classic car hire fleet. Great Escape has added a second 1974 Jensen Interceptor 7.2 litre Mk3 and a unique 1969 Jensen Interceptor 6.3 litre Mk1. The new cars complement its existing 1974 Interceptor Mk3. The cars are available to hire in Suffolk and the Cotswolds.

The new cars feature the most popular Jensen Interceptor colour combination of dark blue metallic paintwork and cream leather interior. The Mark 3 Interceptor car is one of the last cars made before Jensen collapsed in 1976. The Jensen Interceptor MK 1for hire from Great Escape has been restored at a cost of £70,000 restoration recently and is a unique opportunity to drive what is effectively a brand new Jensen. It features Mark 3 upgrades but retains the original 6.3 litre engine, which was recently rebuilt to a very high standard.

Great Escape now has the largest fleet of Jensen Interceptor hire cars in the world. The expansion reflects the enduring popularity of these cars, which were the celebrity wheels of their day. Long, low and featuring mammoth Chrysler V8 engines, the hand-built Jensen was built near to Great Escape’s base in Worcestershire for 10 years from 1966. The fleet of Jensens are available on a self drive basis for weddings and weekends. The hire package includes 24 hours use for every day booked, unlimited mileage, insurance and breakdown cover.

“There is a lot of interest in the Jensen Interceptor,” says Graham Eason of Great Escape. “But they are expensive cars to own and run because of maintenance and fuel consumption. Hiring an Interceptor is a great alternative to buying one – there’s no risk and for many of my customers, just driving one for a day or two is enough to fulfil a dream.”

Great Escape has a fleet of self drive and chauffeur hire classic cars from the 1930s to the 1990s including coupes, convertibles and saloons from Bentley, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Jensen and Morris as well as Rolls Royce. For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/, call 01527 893733 or email info@greatescapecars.co.uk.

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When I set up Great Escape Cars it was all about a classic car version of conventional car hire. So in place of a Ford Mondeo for 24 hr periods you got a Jaguar E Type or Jensen Interceptor. Lots of companies started doing this. And for many years it seemed to work.

Except, quite frankly, it didn't. There are now far fewer companies offering classic car hire and, as my hairline attests, there is one simple reason. It is hard and stressful. Most customers rent a classic car to celebrate a special birthday, a wedding or an anniversary. And, most of the time, they have a great time. But some of the time they don't because however well you maintain a classic car and however much money you spend on them, they are old cars with old car woes. And most of these old cars were never much cop when they were new.

The place where a celebration and an unreliable classic car meet is not necessarily a stress-free environment.

Hiring out old cars has given me the opportunity to drive and own a lot of classics I've always admired. Sadly, not all have lived up to expectations. Here are the ones that prove you should never meet your heroes...

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And so it was with the Lancia Trevi, a rational solution with an odd outcome. And our new Project Car. We've bought one of the handful of remaining Trevis - there are either 2 or 6 in the UK, depending on who you believe - with plans to restore it to its former glory.

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